Keringet Boys Secondary School closed over arson attempts

Keringet Boys Secondary school in Kuresoi, Nakuru County was on Wednesday morning closed indefinitely over what the school’s principal said was an attempt by unknown persons to burn the school on Tuesday, when five liters of petrol was discovered in one of the dormitories.

Mr. Pius Lukulu while announcing the closure to the students at the school on Wednesday morning assembly said the decision was informed by a spate of strikes that has affected the school in the last one month starting from 26th June2016, when the students went on strike over the change of entertainment time on Saturdays, from 6-10pm to 12 -6pm which meant they would not watch 7 pm news.

Five liters of petrol was discovered by students in one of the dormitories at the school on Tuesday evening, and reported to teachers on duty sparking the action by the principal.

Mr. Lukulu in a letter said that the school has closed indefinitely due to a spate of strikes.

“This decision is in line with the basic education regulations 2015 legal notice 39 section 38(b) which states that if an act of indiscipline is likely to threaten the safety of the learners in the institution, the head of institution shall issue the learners with suspension.” The letter read in part hence the decision to close the school indefinitely.

The principal hinted that the school could be reopened in September after consultations with the school’s Board of Management and other stakeholders but told the students that on readmission all school fee arrears must be paid as a condition for students to get back to school.

In the last one month the school has had three more arson attempts which have seen it being closed and students sent home three times.

“We only came back last Wednesday and we are now going back home again.” One student revealed.

The culprits taking petrol to the school on those four occasions have not been identified and police from Keringet Police station are still looking for clues to those behind it.

During the Wednesday address to the students the principal asked them what could be the problem, and they implicated the teachers for incitement, a claim the teachers denied saying they were fearful of school administration and could not air grievances freely.

The principal too said that there were forces out to discredit him and see him out of the institution.